LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Saint Mary’s Sam Buckley and Belmont’s Maya Johnson were selected Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for contests played March 17-23.
Buckley recorded an eye-popping week at the plate for the Gaels, posting an .846 batting average (11-for-13) with six home runs and nine total extra-base hits over four games. The sophomore leadoff batter drove in 15 runs, scored 11 more, slugged 2.538 and finished with a 3.351 OPS. Buckley homered in all four games, including three blasts with eight RBI in the series opener versus Idaho State. She also doubled, homered, drove in four and scored four runs at Utah State.
Johnson tossed 19 shutout innings and registered 32 strikeouts over four appearances and three starts for the Bruins. She finished 2-0 with a save, surrendering seven hits and three walks. The junior southpaw twirled an one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a six-inning win over Murray State to open the week. Johnson added her second shutout of the week, a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts, to clinch the Missouri Valley Conference series at Illinois State. She also broke the career saves record with a perfect three-strikeout 10th inning in a 2-1 win over the Redbirds. Johnson has struck out 188 batters to just eight walks in 100.1 innings of work this season.
The awards are voted on by the NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll Committee, which features one member head coach from each of the NCAA’s 31 conferences.
Selected Top Performances
Jordy Bahl, Nebraska – 1-0, SV, 2 H, 9 K, 8.1 IP, .077 opp. BA; Reese Basinger, Clemson – 2-0, 0.58 ERA, 11 K, 0 XBH, 12 IP; Kaitylyn Breslin, UConn - .727, 8 H, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 R, 1.182 SLG, SB; Alex Brown, Clemson - .917, 11 H, 2 2B, HR, 7 R, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 0 K, .938 OBP, 1.333 SLG; Brooke Deppiesse, Boston University - .611, 3 2B, 3 3B, BB, .619 OBP, 1.111 SLG, 3-3 SB, HBP; Morgan Frye, Ohio State - .900, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1.9000 SG, .923 OBP; Amanda Hasler, Oklahoma State - .714, 3 R, 2B 2 HR, 4 RBI, walk-off homer vs. Baylor; Aaliyah Jenkins, Nevada - .583, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 SB, .615 OBP, 1.083 SLG; Teagan Kavan, Texas – 3-0, 1.27 ERA, 17 K, BB, 5 H, 2 R, 11 IP, .135 opp. BA; Sam Landry, Oklahoma – 2-0, 0.58 ERA, 1 R, 5 H, 13 K, 2 CG, SHO, 12 IP; Jackie Lis, Southern Illinois - .583, 2 HR, 3 2B, 6 RBI, 9 R, 10 BB, .773 OBP, 1.333 SLG; Addie Martin, Bowling Green - .579, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 8 R, 5 RBI, 3-3 SB, 1.211 SLG; Nelly McEnroe-Marinas, Oklahoma - .462, 2B, 3 HR, 6 R, 5 RBI, 1.231 SLG; Ruby Meylan, Oklahoma State – 2-1, 0.00 ERA, 17 K, 5 BB, 16.1 IP; Savannah Nash, Saint Francis (Pa.) - .474, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 R, 7 RBI, 4-4 SB, 1.053 SLG; Peyton Plotts, Kentucky - .500, 9 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R; Sierra Sacco, Mississippi State - .600, 2 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 8 R, .625 OBP, 29-game reached base streak; Sanaa Thomas, North Carolina - .462, 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 2 BB, 1.231 SLG; Sydney Shaffer, Delaware - .438, 5 HR, 5 BB, 6 R, 6 RBI, 1.375 SLG; Alex Wilkes, USF - .467, 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, .933 SLG.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Louisville Slugger/Player & Wilson/Pitcher of the Week awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining over 7,000 coaches today!
